TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2013//
TI  - What is the relation between fear of falling and physical activity in older adults?
JO  - Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
A1  - Hornyak, Victoria
A1  - Brach, Jennifer Sokol
A1  - Wert, David M.
A1  - Hile, Elizabeth
A1  - Studenski, Stephanie
A1  - Vanswearingen, Jessie M.
SP  - 2529
EP  - 2534
VL  - 94
IS  - 12
N2  - : Fear of falling (FOF) relates to participation in exercise, and FOF is related to reported physical function, but the association between FOF and total amount of daily activity performed by older adults has not been examined. OBJECTIVE: To describe the associations between FOF and total daily activity in older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Community-dwelling older adults. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults over 64 who were independent in ambulation with or without and assistive device. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fear of falling was defined by self-reported fear ratings using the Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly (SAFFE) and self reported fear status determined by response to the question "Are you afraid of falling?" Physical function was assessed using the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI). Physical Activity was recorded using an accelerometer worn on the waist for seven consecutive days and mean daily counts of activity per minute were averaged over the seven-day period. RESULTS: Fear ratings were related to total daily activity, r=-.26 p=.02. The relation was not as strong as the relation of function and physical activity, r=.45, p<.001. When stratified by exercise status or when stratified by functional status, fear was no longer related to total daily activity. Physical function explained 19% of the variance in physical activity, while the addition of fear status did not add to the explained variance in physical activity. CONCLUSION: Fear of falling is related to total daily physical activity but FOF was not independently associated with physical activity when accounting for physical function. Some fear of falling may be reported as a limitation in function.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0003-9993
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2013.06.013
ID  - ref1
ER  -